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WALNUT CREEK – For her spectacular golden goal in overtime that sealed Cal’s first victory over Stanford in seven years, senior captain Rachel Mercik (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) has been named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday. SCHOOL’S BLANK is the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week.

Last Wednesday, Mercik led the Golden Bears to their first win over then-No. 9 Stanford in seven seasons with a header in the 98th minute that downed the Cardinal, 1-0. Despite Stanford’s strong offensive and defensive play, Mercik chipped away at the net every chance she got and finished with a team-leading three shots.

It was her first game-winning goal of the season and her career-high sixth goal of the year. Added to her two assists, Mercik ranks fourth on the Cal squad with 12 points. This is her first-career weekly honor and the Cal program's 27th overall.

Cal’s victory over Stanford also helped solidify an at-large berth in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament, which begins this weekend. The Golden Bears will face the Santa Clara Broncos in first round action Saturday at 1 p.m. in Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara.